Off the Record: Cheating common in college coaching

March 14, 2008

Big money. Cheating.

They’re on the same playing field in the world of the college coaching profession these days. Many among what was once the honorable ranks of coaching have put a whole new spin on the words “role model.” It’s a real shame.

The misguided prominence and importance placed on these people is spinning out of control. And it certainly impacts the kids. The issue has reared its ugly head at the high school and even elementary school level. No question that amateur sports is out of control.

Take this Terrelle Pryor kid from Pennsylvania who is being compared to Joe Montana and Tom Brady even before he graduates from high school. Fans at big-time college football powers like Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State are holding their breath until this multi-talented 18-year-old bionic quarterback makes his decision as to where he will play college football.

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The national media even held a press conference where he was supposed to announce his decision about a month ago. His decision? No decision. He’ll keep us in suspense a little while longer.

If he’s as good as experts say, the bad news is he won’t last long on the college playing field. It’s all about money and glory. He’ll advance to the NFL before you can say Bo Schembechler.

You just know how Bo, a role model in the purest sense as a legendary football coach at Michigan, would handle the situation: “We don’t want you if you’re not a ‘Michigan Man’.” (Remember former Michigan basketball coach Bill Frieder?)

The most recent cheater in college coaching centers around former Indiana University basketball coach, Kelvin Sampson. He resigned recently after the NCAA accused him and his staff of five major violations, most involving improper contacts with recruits over the phone. It wasn’t the first time. He was cited for the same problem while coaching at Oklahoma and is still under sanctions. Indiana officials didn’t exactly have their eyes closed when they hired him two years ago.

Under intense heat, Sampson walked away from the Indiana job and was penalized to the back-home-again-in-Indiana tune of $750,000, the amount added to his bank account as part of his contractual buyout. Ludicrous. He’ll no doubt end up with another lucrative coaching job in the near future.

It’s a shame. I grew up in Indiana, and as they say: “I know Hoosier basketball!” Throughout the years, IU has virtually had a flawless record. As far as being able to avoid breaking the rules, the Hoosiers have truly been the “Cream (and Crimson)” in college basketball for decades, and that would include Coach Bobby Knight. (FYI: cream and crimson are Indiana’s colors.)

But even Integrity University couldn’t escape the growing web of greed — the desire to win no matter what the cost in honesty.

In the first place, big-time college coaches are paid too much money. I don’t see the return on investment unless you’re talking about a winning team filling all the seats every game. Indiana, known as the basketball hotbed of America, had some empty ones a few years ago. The pressure cooker was boiling over so they hired a guy from Oklahoma — a proven winner, and, a proven cheater.

Another case in point about the almighty dollar in today’s world of college athletics: Oklahoma (yes the same aforementioned Oklahoma). That school, which puts more emphasis on football than basketball, pays football coach Bob Stoops $6 million a year. Half of that is what they’re calling a “stay bonus.” That’s a reward for his loyalty serving as a coach there 10 years.

The Oklahoma athletics director had this comment about that: “People may question why we do certain things. But we can measure his (Stoops) impact, not just with success on the field but the way our team generates interest and excitement because of the leadership of the head coach. He positively affects so many elements of the athletic program, campus community and the state you could talk about it from the infusion of excitement to the economic impact.” Key word: economic.

He said revenue from athletics during Stoops’ stay had increased from $26 million to $66 million. The AD’s justification for Stoops’ steep pay was that he thought the coach should share in the wealth.

I hope the Oklahoma football coach hasn’t stooped to making illegal phone calls to recruits.